Wage Expectations by Generation (Patreon)

About 15 years ago, I was interviewing someone for a job. When I asked him about his salary expectations, he named a figure that was three times what I was making at the time. I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing—he was completely out of touch.

The salary figures originate from a September 2024 Empower survey of 2,203 U.S. adults conducted by Morning Consult.

Survey respondents across generations reported their current views on successful income levels. All amounts reflect 2024 dollars without adjustment for historical inflation. Baby Boomers' lower figure of $99,874 stems from their present-day aspirations, not past-era equivalents.

My gut tells me, these figures capture aspirational views shaped by today's economic landscape, where costs for essentials like housing and education have skyrocketed. However, the disconnect between these expectations and harsh realities for GenZ is likely to breed widespread disappointment in the younger generations.